The partial shutdown of the federal government and the potential default on America's debt obligations are all the talk in Washington.

Well they should be, in one sense: The nation's fiscal house and the operations of government agencies and services must be taken seriously. Yet they are not the only stories worth noting. Here are a few others:

"Last year... Dr. Angela McCaskill, a senior university official at Gallaudet University ... was suspended because she had signed a ballot petition supporting Maryland voters having the right to vote on marriage ... Only after the election was over did the University move to quietly reinstate her, apparently in an effort to limit exposure in an expected lawsuit and pacify Dr. McCaskill's persistent supporters. (On Tuesday), we learned that Dr. McCaskill followed through on that lawsuit." Read more of FRC President Tony Perkins' take on this extraordinary case here.

Implementation of the President's health care overhaul has begun, but there are alternatives that offer targeted, effective, and affordable change. One of them is U.S. Rep. Phil Roe's plan; Rep. Roe (R-TN), a physician, brings both extensive experience and common sense to the debate. He will be discussing his proposal at FRC on October 23; you can register to attend or watch online (both at no cost) here.

FRC is urging Congress to support H.R.3133, the "Marriage and Religious Freedom Act" introduced by Congressman Raul Labrador (R-ID) on September 19. As FRC's David Christensen notes, "This bill affirms that a person's religious belief in the importance of natural marriage should be treated with tolerance and respect by the federal government." Click here to listen to Tony's interview with Rep. Labrador.

The crises of today, however serious, do not erase the profound and long-term issues with which our country is dealing. At FRC, we're committed to helping you know what those issues are, and how you can make a difference.